How to have twins naturally?

The idea of ​​having a twin pregnancy is appealing to many couples, as the excitement and everything associated with the arrival of the baby is doubled. However, a multiple pregnancy is not as likely as it seems. Here we explain more about it and if there is any recipe on how to conceive twins naturally.

The chances of multiple pregnancy are due to certain factors that not all women predispose. However, it seems that everywhere you look there are more twins and twins than we were used to seeing. This is due to the use of assisted fertility techniques such as in vitro fertilization , the use of hormones that promote ovulation, among others. 

But, achieving a twin pregnancy naturally does not depend on a magic recipe and, to better understand what it is about, we are going to explain a little about twin pregnancies and how twins are formed, since they are two different terms, although it seems that they are they deal with the same thing.

How are twins formed and what is the difference with fraternal twins?

First of all, we must know that twins are formed when an egg is fertilized by a sperm. Later, this egg separates into two different embryos. However, they may share the same amniotic sac, placenta, and genetics. For this reason, this type of pregnancy is also known as single or monozygotic, and the babies are called monozygotic twins in medical jargon. 

Second, twin pregnancy occurs when two fertile eggs or single ova are fertilized by two sperm. In this case, each twin has its individual placenta, as well as its unique genetics. These are called dizygotic, dizygotic, or dizygotic.

However, when assisted reproduction treatments are carried out, it is more likely that twin pregnancies will occur, since several fertilized eggs are implanted in the uterus to increase the chances of success of the procedure. 

But, in the case of twin babies, the chances are lower, because it is a biological accident in which a fertilized egg divides into two identical ones, so neither in vitro fertilization nor oral fertility treatments are decisive in this fact..

How to increase the chances of having twins naturally?

The Spanish Fertility Society (SEF) states that there is only a 1.1% chance of having twins, and a 0.4% chance of having identical twins. However, there are some factors that have been shown to have a slightly higher incidence on the conception of twins.

• Genetics of the mother: If there are cases of multiple pregnancies in your family, there are chances for you too. You just have to keep in mind that if it is the paternal family that has the twin pregnancies, this will not increase your chances. 
• Age: Fertility research indicates that women over 35 years of age are more likely to conceive twins, since more than one egg is released per month after this age. Likewise, at this stage the high production of the follicle -stimulating hormone that favors fertility is also stimulated. 
• Ethnicity: It is shown that women of African descent are more likely to have a multiple pregnancy than Caucasians, while Asians and Latinas are more likely.
• Weight: According to a study by the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology, women with a body mass index above the 25th percentile are more likely to have twin pregnancies. But, under no circumstances is weight gain advised to favor them. 

• Previous multiple pregnancies: With each multiple pregnancy, the chances of a repeat pregnancy double. This happens in women who show a tendency to multiple ovulation. 

Now, even if the odds are low and your profile doesn’t fit the above factors, there are a few tricks you can try to increase those odds a bit.

• Folic acid: As soon as you start planning your pregnancy, you should start taking folic acid as a supplement, as it has been shown to increase the chances of having twins by 40%.

• Leave the contraceptives: By leaving the contraceptive pills, the chances of having a multiple pregnancy in the following three months increase, since in this period there is a hormonal readjustment in your body that favors the release of more eggs in your cycle.

• Watch your diet: Women with a diet rich in protein and dairy may increase their chances of multiple pregnancies, as dairy foods are believed to promote hormone production. Likewise, some foods and tubers such as cassava and wild yam also affect this fact, because they favor superovulation.  
• Professional opinion: If you are sure you want to have twins, you can consult your trusted doctor and he will be the one to suggest some fertility treatment or assisted reproduction technique to help you. 

I want to have twins boy and girl

If it is already difficult to predict a multiple pregnancy, it is even more difficult to decide the types of twins you want to have. In the case of opposite-sex babies in a twin pregnancy, it happens that an X sperm fertilizes an X egg so that it is a boy, and a Y sperm fertilizes an Y egg so that the other twin is a girl. Therefore, they are fraternal twins and do not share the same DNA. 

The good news is that this incidence has a 40% chance in twin pregnancies, so hope is the last thing to be lost. 

Now, if you have already decided to have a baby, you should focus on taking care of your health, maintaining a balanced diet and good habits; such as getting enough rest, doing some physical activity, avoiding the accumulation of stress and enjoying the process.

You can trust biology and wait for it to happen. Also opt for alternative fertility treatments in conjunction with pregnancy tests, but remember that at the end of all the most important thing is that, whether it is one or several babies, the pregnancy proceeds normally, that the fetus develops and that it is born healthy.